Brake Caliper Guide Pin Isolation Damper for Low-Pressure NVH

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disc brake assemblies experience noise, vibration, or harshness due to metal-on-metal contact between guide pins and anchor bracket bores when there is no brake loading or low pressure, as the guide pins may still contact the interior surface, leading to unwanted friction.

Innovation Solution

A brake caliper guide pin with an isolation damper system, comprising a main damper and a secondary damper, where the secondary damper is configured to limit contact between the guide pin stem and the bore interior surface, with adjustable compression and contact thresholds to ensure defined contact only under specific brake loading conditions, reducing metal-to-metal contact and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a damper is provided on the guide pins to provide a defined point of contact, then brake loading contact is improved, but noise and vibration occur during low pressure or no brake loading due to metal on metal contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrake loading contactVSAvoidnoise and vibration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element (isolation damper) between the guide pin and bore interior surface. This damper acts as a mediator that prevents direct metal-to-metal contact during low pressure or no brake loading conditions, thereby eliminating noise and vibration while still allowing proper contact during brake loading through its controlled compression and expansion characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The isolation damper changes its physical parameters (compression state) based on brake loading conditions. During low pressure or no brake loading, the damper remains expanded to maintain clearance and prevent contact. During brake loading, the damper compresses to allow defined contact, thus dynamically adjusting the contact parameters to resolve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If guide pins have clearance to move within bores, then smooth operation is achieved, but unwanted metal on metal contact occurs during no brake loading or low pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmooth operationVSAvoidmetal on metal contact
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The isolation damper serves as an intermediary that fills the clearance space between the guide pin and bore interior surface during no brake loading or low pressure conditions. This prevents direct metal-to-metal contact while still allowing the guide pin to move smoothly within the bore, as the damper compresses and expands to accommodate the movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The isolation damper provides beforehand cushioning by maintaining a protective barrier between the guide pin and bore interior surface during normal operation. This cushioning effect prevents unwanted metal-to-metal contact before it can occur, while still permitting smooth movement through controlled compression and expansion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The isolation damper system effectively reduces metal-to-metal contact and associated noise, vibration, or harshness by maintaining a clearance between the guide pin and the bore until a defined brake loading is reached, thereby enhancing the braking performance and reducing unwanted noise and vibration.

Implementation Method 1

at least one secondary damper configured to be disposed between the stem and the interior surface, wherein the secondary damper is configured to limit a contact between the stem and the interior surface depending upon brake loading on the disc brake assembly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The isolation damper system effectively reduces metal-to-metal contact and associated noise, vibration, or harshness

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3402997B1Brake caliper guide pin low pressure isolation damper
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 ZF ACTIVE SAFETY US INC
  • EP3402997B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3402997B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3402997B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4B

AI summary

A disc brake assembly comprises an anchor bracket having at least one bore formed therein; a guide pin configured to be slidably supported in the bore and having a stem; at least one main damper configured to be disposed between the stem and an interior surface of the bore and configured to bias a portion of the stem against the interior surface of the bore depending upon brake loading on the disc brake assembly; and at least one secondary damper configured to be disposed between the stem and the interior surface, wherein the secondary damper is configured to limit a contact between the stem and the interior surface depending upon brake loading on the disc brake assembly.